BOSTON -- Verizon customers in areas of Boston and Cambridge now have improved communications as the result of a $498,000 investment the company made in its local telecommunications network.

Verizon has installed fiber-optic cable and associated electronic equipment between its Harrison call-switching center in Boston and its call-switching center in Cambridge. The cable allows Verizon to expand its ability to offer high-speed data services and other advanced services to customers, and provides increased survivability and reliability in the Verizon network.

During the past three years, Verizon has invested more than $2 billion in its network that serves Massachusetts.

"This project demonstrates Verizon's commitment to build and maintain an advanced telecommunications network throughout the Bay State," said Donna Cupelo, region president for Verizon Massachusetts/Rhode Island. "We continue to invest in our state-of-the-art infrastructure to maintain service excellence, as well to provide a platform for high-speed access to the Internet, work-at-home capabilities and a host of other advanced services.

"Whether we're making significant network upgrades or offering new services and packages of local, long-distance and broadband services, Verizon is committed to meeting the communications needs of consumers and businesses," said Cupelo.

A Fortune 10 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $67 billion in revenues and 221,000 employees. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with more than 139 million access line equivalents and 36 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with nearly 16 million long-distance lines. The company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.